What's new ?

Since the release of PlayOnMac (2009), it feels like I'm coding each new feature twice. So, in this version, we have decided to combine PlayOnLinux and PlayOnMac entirely, in order to halve our working time. Now PlayOnLinux and PlayOnMac will have the same code. That means that it will be the same program on the two OSes. Linux users will now benefit from the same features as Mac users do:

- Double clicking on an executable will launch a very simple installation wizard.
- Integration of a POL_WebSite API, which allows you to sign into your PlayOnLinux
account with a script.
- Debug function: when a program does not start, PlayOnLinux will allow you to send an automatically-generated report to the Bug Tracker.
- A cleaner and better interface. (It is not bash that runs independent python windows, but a python script that launches bash when needed. This helps to unify the PlayOnLinux windows in one application).
- Create a shortcut on your desktop for already installed applications.

But we have not forgotten the Mac OS that will take advantage of features available in Linux:

- The scripts' signature. For security reasons, checking that the PlayOnMac scripts (= Windows application installers) have been verified and validated by our team.
- The automatic extraction of icons after installation.
- The plugin and package support. Pol (We will probably create the .Pom, so everyone's happy)

That's not all. We have added many other features:

- The application configuration window is completely remade.
- Possibility to install PlayOnLinux functions (vcrun2008, flashplayer, ie6, ...) from the configuration window.
- Updating the list of applications will not open a window, but gets in the status bar.
- The availability of a new version will also be displayed in the status bar.
- During the manual installation of a program, there will now be an MD5, allowing PlayOnLinux/PlayOnMac to identify if there is a script for this program.
- Many functions for scripters.
- New icons, windows, more aesthetic and less resource-intensive.
- The word prefix is replaced with "virtual disk".
- A very big clean-up. (PlayOnLinux v2 no longer supported, as well as many other functions not used).
- Fixed a major bug, quite annoying in PoL v3: when you click "Cancel", the current script will be killed. It will stop in any case.

Other functions are provided:

- A new manual installation wizard redesigned, with automatic creation of a script if the installation was successful.
- Possibility to connect to your PlayOnLinux account to test your scripts or to send us a note.
- Possibility to connect to your account to request the compilation of a Wine binary with a patch.
- Downloads Control.
- If other ideas come from me/you in mind

For our curious friends

POL_LoadVar_device will give you two variables in the Device ID and Vendor ID of the graphics card. (Runs on Mac and Linux). Useful in Wine.
POL_SetupWindow_prefix_selector will provide you with a list of icons, and a checkbox at the bottom to choose to display the prefix instead. The window will return a prefix to the final. (Useful for exemplr patches)
POL_WebSite_login is used to request logins to PlayOnLinux
POL_WebSite_check_login to check logins to PlayOnLinux
POL_WebSite_Init to log into accounts
POL_WebSite_Request can make a request to the site (send a bug, post a message on the forum, download a script, etc ...)
POL_WebSite_Close to log out
POL_WebSite_logout to delete PlayOnLinux logins (it will make another POL_WebSite_login, then request the user IDs to redo a query)
POL_MD5 et POL_MD5_file for calculating an MD5 sum (compatibility Mac and Linux)
POL_SetupWindow_textbox_multiline, displays a multi-line text box
POL_SetupWindow_show_exe displays all non-Wine executables in the Wine prefix
POL_SetupWindow_file displays a file

A test version is already available. For suggestions or opinions, please post a comment :-)

This is my first script featuring Synthesia, now available on PlayOnLinux !

It's a educational game that aims to teach you piano.
You can choose ANY midi file and Synthesia will play it for you in a virtual keyboard! You can either choose to play it yourself with computer keyboard or a MIDI keyboard. It also allows you to play at your own speed and change the instruments.

With 25 bucks more, you can buy the Learning Pack to have many other features!

If you've always wanted to learn piano in a new fun way, this software is for you.

According to TechEye.net, AMD just hired two developers that are known for their contributions to X and the graphic stack.

This hiring, it seems, is in fact the first step toward a strategic shift of the company, leading to real official support for its free drivers. Still according to this source, one of the reasons stated is that support for Linux is very complex in a binary form due to the fast evolutions and binary compatibility issues between kernel versions. To the contrary, free development means better collaboration with upstream developers and simplifies the job... When you look at the quality and performance of Nvidia drivers, this "justification" for the mediocrity of the current ATI/AMD drivers seems reason enough to laugh (or cry).

Apparently, for AMD, support for emerging platforms like Android and other technologies based on Linux finally turned out to be worth revealing a few of their cards' secrets.

To increase their Linux support, the company therefore picked two contributors from the community. Michel Dänzer and Chistrian König now join John Bridgman and Alex Deucher, the employees currently working on ATI/AMD graphic card drivers.

Bottom line is, we can reasonably expect an improvement of these cards' performance on Wine in the coming months :sunglasses:
GNU_Raziel

Holidays have finally begun, so I'll get back to my good habits and give you two games today: Crysis 2 and Dungeon Siege III.

Crysis 2:
New York 2023. Three years after the first events occured off the Korean coast, New York is struck by a terrible epidemic. The virus, called "Manhattan virus", was spread to the population by the CEPH, the alien entities discovered on the Lingshan isles, and brought chaos along. The player takes the role of Alcatraz, a Marine sent to the coast of New York by submarine to extract scientist Nathan Gould from the city.

Dungeon Siege III:
Year 1294. Thirty years after king Roland's murder, Jeyne Kassynder's armies still persecute the descendants of the 10th Legion, accused of the murder. Venerable Odo, a former legionary, strives to find and protect the heirs of the Legion, hoping they can rebuild the organization and fight Jeyne Kassynder, who is gaining more and more power over the world of Ehb.

This management game takes you back to the Middle Ages. You will be managing ten heroes in order to fulfill quests in a Kingdom that will evolve with your help. Each Sim's life management is pushed aside a bit to put the focus on these objectives you have to complete.